Happy New Year! 19 Ways to Celebrate January in SW Washington

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It’s a New Year. Make a resolution to get out more and explore, of course, Southwest Washington! From the Pacific to Mt. Adams, from the Columbia to Mount St. Helens and points north, it’s all happening locally. See you out there!

Beacon Rock

January 1 – Beacon Rock State Park invites the public to kick off the New Year with a hike to the top of Beacon Rock. Ring in 2013 by connecting with nature and enjoying the beautiful views of the Columbia River Gorge! This moderate, two-mile hike will start at 11 a.m. at the Beacon Rock trailhead on Tuesday, January 1. The “First Day Hike” kicks off a year long celebration of Washington State Parks’ centennial year. For a full list of events, visit www.parks.wa.gov/events.

Blacksmith Shop at Fort Vancouver

January 5 – Fort Vancouver Lantern Tour – A lantern tour of the Fort gives you a true sense of what the long winter nights were like for John McLoughlin and his crew. Costumed interpreters are on site for this popular event. The cost is $10 for adults and $7 for children under 15 years of age. Reservations are required. To make a reservation, call the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center at 360-816-6230
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January 6 – Resolution Run – Battle Ground – The Resolution Run includes a 10K, 5K, and new 1K Cub Run. The 10K begins at 10 AM followed by the 5K at 10:05 AM and the 1K Cub Run at 10:45 AM. Runners and walkers are welcome. Registration includes a race tech t-shirt, goodie bag, and breakfast from Bone’s Steak and Chop House, beer from Laurelwood Brew Pub, and a DJ at the post-party. Starts and finishes at Battle Ground Village.

January 12 – Drink This – Vancouver. Drink This returns to downtown Vancouver. 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. This festival promotes craft beverage makers (beer, wine, coffee, tea, soda, cider, spirits…) by inviting the public in for a special walking event to each business.

Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco

January 12- March 10 – Legacy of the Columbia River Fishery Exhibit – Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum – Ilwaco. Each of the exhibit’s 12 panels explores a different theme. The museum will augment the exhibition with items from its collection including a 1903 ledger from Keystone Cannery in Ilwaco, vintage local salmon labels, photographs and antique net-making tools.

January 12 – The 3rd Annual Martin Luther King Breakfast will be held from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Heathman Hotel in Vancouver. Featured speakers are Tony Benjamin, Former NFL player; Rosalund Jenkins, Black Educators Roundtable; Dr. Alisha Moreland-Capuia, OHSU Resident Physician and Mel Netzhammer, WSU-V Chancellor. There will also be performances by Renee Mitchell, Clairece Rosati, Yvonne Payne and Shania Watts. To purchase a ticket, click here .

January 19-20 –Windless Kite Festival, Long Beach School Gymnasium, Washington and 4th St South. It doesn’t take a windy day to fly a kite. Demonstrations and competitions last two days. The Windless Kite Festival is an indoor kite flying show. It’s individuals, duos and more choreographed air routines to music.The gym is open for participant practice, demonstrations, and indoor flying lessons Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 5pm except during performance times. Admission: Donation

January 19-20 – Vancouver Symphony Orchestra – Vancouver’s excellent symphony features a Hamlet-centered program with works by Liszt, Walton, Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich plus readings by actor Kirk Mouser under the baton of Salvador Brotons. The Saturday performance is at 2 p.m. and Sunday evening’s concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Skyview Concert Hall. Individual tickets are available here.

January 19-20 – Antique and Collectible Show, Clark County Events Center. Saturday 9-6, Sunday 10-5 Admission is $6 – Good for both days. More than 400 booths of collectibles! The Clark County Historical Museum will display the exhibit ‘Road to Equality: the Struggle for Women’s Rights in the NW’ at the show.

January 24-26 – Clark College Jazz Festival – Vancouver. This is the 51st year of the Clark College Jazz Festival! The Festival hosts more than 60 middle school and high school jazz ensembles in a three-day celebration of jazz. The young musicians are incredibly talented. Gaiser Hall will be THE most musical site in Clark County during this renowned festival!

January 25 – The Second City at Columbia Theatre – Longview. Laugh off the winter doldrums with the comedy improv group that has spawned many a Saturday Night Live performer. Tickets are available here.

January 25-27 – The Brautigan Unconference on Saturday, (inter)National Unpublished Writers’ Day on Sunday, and a Creative Diddy-wah all weekend. It’s happening at the Clark County Historical Museum, home to the Brautigan Collection.
January 25-27 – Razor Clam Digs – Tentative digs for the Long Beach Peninsula. See January 10-12 for details.

WELCOME TO ZEST!

Welcome to Southwest Washington ZEST! Here you will find travel ideas, recreational pursuits, cultural events, interviews with creative locals and more about one of the best areas of the Pacific Northwest.

From the beaches and bays of Pacific County to the forests of Wahkiakum and Skamania, from Cowlitz and Lewis counties and Mount St. Helens, down to Vancouver and the Columbia River, there are amazing places to visit and people to know. Whether you live here or are visiting ZEST from afar, glad you are here.